Ethan Allen goes eclectic

When it comes to fashion, as well as interior design, matchy-matchy is so dated. Too coordinated is out. Stylephiles earn their stripes by having a distinct sense of style and making illogical pairings work for them.

At Ethan Allen, an American furniture brand with a global reach, they call it “eclecticism,” a style that’s achieved with the use of texture, shape, finish and burst of colors. Yes, our homes are becoming more colorful again, literally, as showcased at the Ethan Allen flagship headquarters in Danbury, Connecticut. We were invited by Focus Global, the exclusive distributor of Ethan Allen products in the Philippines, to get a glimpse of the colorful world of Ethan Allen as it launches its fall collection — The New Eclecticism, a curated medley of everything you love. The idea is to use contrasting furniture pieces (classic and modern), mix glass with brass, and throw in little pops of color. The only rules are your own.

Indeed, when styles collide, originality explodes.

Classic in a new light

Known for its design philosophy, “Classic Design. Modern Perspective,” Ethan Allen takes pride in its versatile and timeless pieces. But the brand recognizes the need to remain relevant given the evolving lifestyle of its growing clientele.

“We attended the Maison et Objet show in Paris to keep ourselves abreast of the latest in furniture and interior design,” shared Jim Debernardo, display planning director of Ethan Allen Inc.  Global.

“The exhibition area was literally busting with color. Pink, orange, turquoise, red and honeysuckle yellow are the new black in 2014. Actually, I think Paris is a little behind us because these colors are already highlighted in Ethan Allen’s The New Eclecticism collection,” Debernardo said with an impish grin, while showing us around the design center.

The New Eclecticism came to life the moment we entered the Ethan Allen Design Center.

Jim and his team created design vignettes where they presented classic in a new light — fashionable and colorful, a bit trendier but still elegant. Here, they veered away from the perfect room setting where everything is coordinated.

“We deliberately put different pieces together so consumers will have more options. In this kind of setup, they can select pieces to create the look that they want for their homes,” added Jim.

There’s an 18th century chair, which was painted raspberry pink, a leather sofa in hot orange and honeysuckle yellow, and a white curio cabinet with a raspberry interior, among other interesting finds.

“Before, you wouldn’t dare put a pink chair beside your Pembroke table. We wanted to do something that’s very, very fresh. We actually try to get into the psyche of who we’re designing for,” Debernardo said.

Let ethan allen color your world

At Ethan Allen, they don’t just draft a design, they tailor fit each piece according to their client’s personality.

“For The New Eclecticism, we’re trying to tap not just the baby boomers but the GenXers as well. We actually sold the orange sofa to 78-year-old twins,” Debernardo said.

Indeed, one is neither too young nor too old for Ethan Allen. The children’s bedroom collection, for instance, boasts pieces that are funky, fun, and uber comfortable. The Jodi bed, for instance, is sweet in raspberry, but there are actually 23 other girly colors to choose from.

“We have a new design tool called American Colors which allows our customers more freedom and creativity in their choices,” noted Debernardo.

This option, inspired by the colors across the US landscape, lets a customer select the hues and finishes on most available wooden furnishings and nearly 200 fabrics.

“Since 1932, the company has found inspiration in the diversity of American styles. No matter where our clients live, they want to create looks that are all their own, and Ethan Allen offers them the tool to do just that,” enthused Farooq Kathwari, chairman and CEO of Ethan Allen.

The American Colors design tool is so easy to use. Using the design center’s computer, just key in the name of, say, the chair you fancy. If you like it in purple, just click the color block on the screen to see how it will actually look like. Now, you won’t feel limited whenever you want to decorate your home with furniture in distinctive colors and finishes.

While some stores sell you their style, Ethan Allen helps you create a style that’s all your own. Mix it, match it, mash it all up.

“Where you go from there is up to you,” Debernardo added.

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In the Philippines, Ethan Allen is exclusively distributed by Focus Global. For inquiries, call 634-8587 or visit ethanallen.com.